US5769205A - Continuous cigarette manufacturing machine - Google Patents

Continuous cigarette manufacturing machine Download PDF

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Publication number
US5769205A
US5769205A US08/541,909 US54190995A US5769205A US 5769205 A US5769205 A US 5769205A US 54190995 A US54190995 A US 54190995A US 5769205 A US5769205 A US 5769205A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
pockets
machine
pocket
group
conveyor
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US08/541,909
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English (en)
Inventor
Bruno Belvederi
Giulio Barbieri
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GD SpA
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GD SpA
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from ITBO940448 external-priority patent/IT1274060B/it
Priority claimed from IT95BO000127 external-priority patent/IT1281764B1/it
Application filed by GD SpA filed Critical GD SpA
Assigned to G.D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI reassignment G.D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: BARBIERI, GIULIO, BELVEDERI, BRUNO
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Publication of US5769205A publication Critical patent/US5769205A/en
Assigned to DRESSER EQUIPMENT GROUP, INC. (NOW KNOWN AS DRESSER, INC.) reassignment DRESSER EQUIPMENT GROUP, INC. (NOW KNOWN AS DRESSER, INC.) NUNC PRO TUNC EFFECTIVE 01/31/1999 Assignors: DRESSER INDUSTRIES, INC.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
    • B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
    • B65B19/04—Arranging, feeding, or orientating the cigarettes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a continuous cigarette manufacturing machine, in particular, a machine wherein a continuous conveyor member is supplied successively, at a loading station, with items defined at least partly by a number of cigarettes, and feeds the items along a given path along which they are variously manipulated.
  • Currently used cigarette manufacturing systems normally comprise one or more normally intermittent-operating packing machines, i.e. of the type wherein the cigarettes, supplied in bulk to the input feedbox of the packing machine, are withdrawn from the feedbox and fed in groups, normally comprising twenty cigarettes, to a step conveyor.
  • This normally presents a succession of pockets which, as the conveyor moves forward in steps, are successively arrested at a loading station in front of the feedbox to receive a respective group of cigarettes.
  • the groups of cigarettes are fed to a manipulating and wrapping line along which they are fed in steps and subjected to a number of wrapping operations at a given number of stops between one step and the next.
  • the above patents all relate to continuous packing machines, wherein an input feedbox with a number of outputs is connected to a continuous wrapping wheel, i.e. rotating at substantially constant angular speed about its axis, by an intermediate conveyor which receives groups of cigarettes at a loading station defined by the outputs of the feedbox, and transfers them successively to an unloading station where they are unloaded on to the wrapping wheel.
  • the intermediate conveyor is either a step-feed type, as in the case of European Patent n. 435,087, or a combination-feed type, i.e. intermittent at the loading station and continuous at the unloading station.
  • a continuous conveying and manipulating member is supplied, by a feed device with a number of outputs, and with no need for an intermediate intermittent transfer device, with items defined at least partly by a number of cigarettes.
  • a continuous cigarette manufacturing machine comprising a conveyor; a number of conveying units supported on the conveyor, and in turn respectively comprising a conveying pocket for receiving an item comprising a number of cigarettes, and supporting means for connecting the pocket to the conveyor, which is moved continuously to move the pockets successively along a given path, said supporting means moving in relation to the conveyor to move the respective pocket along said path and in relation to the conveyor; a loading station located along said path; and supply means for supplying said items, and presenting at least two outputs at the loading station; characterized in that said conveying units are divided into groups, each comprising a number of pockets equal to the number of outputs of said supply means; and said supporting means are provided with control means for imparting to the pockets of the conveying units in each said group given movements in relation to the conveyor.
  • said control means comprise cam means of the same number as the pockets in each group; each said cam means being associated with one pocket per each said group.
  • each pocket in each said group is preferably associated, together with all the corresponding pockets in the other groups, with the same said cam means.
  • FIG. 1 shows a schematic view in perspective of a first preferred embodiment of the input portion of the packing machine according to the present invention
  • FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross section of the FIG. 1 portion of the packing machine
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 show two cross section details of a second preferred embodiment of the FIG. 1 input portion of the packing machine according to the present invention
  • FIG. 5 shows a section along line V--V in FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 6 shows a section along line VI--VI in FIG. 4.
  • Number 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2 indicates a cigarette manufacturing machine comprising, in the example shown, a continuous packing machine, the input portion 2 of which comprises a feedbox 3, a frame 3a, and a wrapping wheel 4 fitted to frame 3a and connected directly to feedbox 3 at a loading station 5.
  • feedbox 3 comprises four outputs 6 - which may be more than four but no fewer than two - for respective groups 7 of cigarettes ultimately forming the content of a packet (not shown).
  • feedbox 3 also comprises a known extracting device 8 movable back and forth through output 6 and in direction 9 parallel to the axes of the cigarettes (not shown) inside feedbox 3, to successively feed groups 7 on to wheel 4 at station 5.
  • Wheel 4 rotates continuously about its axis 10 substantially parallel to direction 9, to feed groups 7 along a substantially circular path P comprising a loading arc P1 extending through station 5, and a wrapping and unloading arc P2 complementary to arc P1.
  • Wheel 4 comprises a central conveying drum 11 rotating clockwise (in FIG. 2) about axis 10 at a substantially constant angular speed; and a number of wrapping units 12 arranged about drum 11.
  • Units 12 are formed into groups 13, each comprising a number of units 12 equal to the number of outputs 6; and each unit 12 comprises an oscillating arm 14 extending substantially radially from drum 11, and pivoting at one end about a respective pin 15 parallel to axis 10 and connected integral with drum 11.
  • each arm 14 is fitted integral with a conveying pocket for housing a respective group 7, and comprising a tubular folding spindle 16 extending parallel to axis 10 and for receiving a respective group 7 extracted in known manner from an output 6 by respective extracting device 8.
  • Wheel 4 presents a control device 17 comprising two opposed, angularly-fixed disks 18 and 19 on either side of and coaxial with drum 11.
  • disks 18 and 19 present a given number of respective annular cam grooves 20 extending about axis 10 (only grooves 20 of disk 19 are shown). More specifically, the total number of grooves 20 on both disks 18 and 19 equals the number of outputs 6 and of spindles 16 in each group 13. That is, as each group 13 in the example shown presents four spindles 16, each disk 18, 19 presents two grooves 20.
  • Each groove 20 controls the angular position, in relation to drum 11, of a respective arm 14 in each group 13 via respective actuating devices comprising tappet devices 21, which form part of device 17 and each comprise a respective lever 22 extending transversely from a respective arm 14 and fitted on its free end with a tappet roller 23 engaged in rolling manner inside groove 20.
  • respective actuating devices comprising tappet devices 21, which form part of device 17 and each comprise a respective lever 22 extending transversely from a respective arm 14 and fitted on its free end with a tappet roller 23 engaged in rolling manner inside groove 20.
  • each groove 20 is engaged by a number of rollers 23 equal to the number of groups 13, and imparts the same movement to each roller 23; which movement provides for so oscillating respective arm 14 in relation to drum 11 that, as respective spindle 16 travels along arc P1, arm 14 first rotates about its pin 15 in the same direction as drum 11 so as to rotate about axis 10 at a greater angular speed than drum 11, and then, by virtue of the shape of respective groove 20, is arrested in relation to drum 11 and begins reversing, in relation to drum 11, at a gradually increasing angular speed until it reaches the same speed as drum 11.
  • Grooves 20 are identical, but each is so offset in relation to the others that each arm 14 is brought into the above condition simultaneously with the other arms 14 in the same group 13, in which condition, the respective spindle 16 is arrested in space when positioned substantially coaxial with respective output 6 in station 5.
  • grooves 20 are so formed that spindles 16 in the same group 13 present the same spacing as outputs 6 when they are simultaneously arrested coaxial with respective outputs 6 for a given hold time, which time is exploited by extracting device 8 to insert a respective group 7 inside each spindle 16 arrested in front of a respective output 6.
  • each spindle 16 may be arrested at any point along arc P1 by simply altering the shape of grooves 20, so that, even if outputs 6 are not equally spaced by spacing S1 along arc P1, as shown in FIG. 2, grooves 20 may be so formed as to simultaneously arrest spindles 16 in the same group 13 in front of respective outputs 6.
  • grooves 20 are so formed as to space spindles 16 in any required manner, depending on the spacing, along arc P2, of the devices (not shown) cooperating with spindles 16 to perform a given number of manipulating and folding operations.
  • grooves 20 are so formed as to impart a substantially equal spacing S2 to all of spindles 16, regardless of which group 13 they belong to, to enable a succession of known wrapping operations to be performed on each spindle 16 by known folding and gumming devices (not shown) located along arc P2.
  • device 17 acts as a group forming device for forming groups 13 by manipulating a continuous succession of spindles 16 with a given spacing (in the example shown, equally spaced with spacing S2 along at least part of arc P2 and travelling along arc P2 at substantially constant angular speed) to divide the continuous succession into a succession of groups 13 as spindles 16 travel along arc P1.
  • device 17 also acts as a pitch change device by imparting different movements to spindles 16 in each group 13 along arc P1, and such that the spindles 16 in the same group 13 present the same spacing as outputs 6 at station 5, and are arrested simultaneously, and for the same hold time, in front of outputs 6.
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 embodiment relates to a wrapping wheel 24 similar to wheel 4, except that units 12, as opposed to pivoting directly on drum 11, pivot on respective radial arms 25 extending integrally from drum 11 in the gap between disks 18 and 19, arranged in two rows 26 facing each other and a respective disk 18, 19, and presenting two different lengths alternating with each other.
  • units 12 no longer present oscillating arms 14 which are replaced by carriages 27 for supporting respective spindles 16 and running along two annular guide rails 28, 29 coaxial with axis 10.
  • Rails 28, 29 are supported on respective disks 18, 19, extend along path P in the gap between disks 18 and 19, and each support half of the spindles 16 in each group 13, i.e. two spindles 16, for the reasons explained previously. More specifically, the spindles 16 in each group 13 supported on rail 28, 29 alternate with the spindles 16 in the same group 13 supported on rail 29, 28.
  • Each carriage 27 comprises a plate 30 crosswise to axis 10 and presenting a radial slot 31; and four wheels 32 mounted in pairs on either side of rail 28, 29.
  • each unit 12 is controlled by grooves 20 via the interposition of respective actuating devices, each comprising a tappet device 33 substantially similar to device 21 of wheel 4, except that it comprises a square rocker arm 34, the intermediate portion of which pivots on and is oscillated about pin 15 fitted through the free end of arm 25.
  • Each rocker arm 34 comprises two substantially perpendicular arms 35, 36; arm 35 presents an end portion connected in sliding manner by a pin 37 inside respective slot 31, and defines, together with respective plate 30, a crank and slotted link device; and arm 36 is fitted on its free end with tappet roller 23 engaged in rolling manner inside respective groove 20, as described previously.
  • drum 11 is rotated (clockwise in FIGS. 3 and 4) about axis 10 at substantially constant angular speed by a known belt drive 38 housed inside frame 3a, and is fitted through centrally by a supporting shaft 39 extending transversely from frame 3a and fitted on its free end with disk 19.
  • Disk 18 is fitted through centrally with drum 11 and hence shaft 39, and presents, on the opposite side to that facing disk 19, a tubular element for fitment to frame 3a.
  • Wheel 24 operates in the same way as wheel 4, and observations made previously in connection with wheel 4 also apply to wheel 24.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
  • Manufacturing Of Cigar And Cigarette Tobacco (AREA)
US08/541,909 1994-10-13 1995-10-10 Continuous cigarette manufacturing machine Expired - Fee Related US5769205A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITBO940448 IT1274060B (it) 1994-10-13 1994-10-13 Macchina operatrice continua per sigarette.
ITB094A0448 1994-10-13
ITB095A0127 1995-03-24
IT95BO000127 IT1281764B1 (it) 1995-03-24 1995-03-24 Macchina operatrice continua per sigarette

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US5769205A true US5769205A (en) 1998-06-23

Family

ID=26330319

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US08/541,909 Expired - Fee Related US5769205A (en) 1994-10-13 1995-10-10 Continuous cigarette manufacturing machine

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US5769205A (zh)
EP (1) EP0706941A3 (zh)
JP (1) JPH08175509A (zh)
CN (1) CN1058672C (zh)
BR (1) BR9504818A (zh)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6092642A (en) * 1997-01-13 2000-07-25 G.D Societa' Per Azioni Method of forming groups of cigarettes
US6736257B2 (en) * 2001-08-25 2004-05-18 Hauni Maschinenbau Ag Device and method for transferring articles in the tobacco-processing industry
US20050236256A1 (en) * 2004-04-22 2005-10-27 G.D Societa' Per Azioni Transfer unit for transferring elongated articles
US20060180431A1 (en) * 2003-04-09 2006-08-17 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Device for changing the direction of conveyance of flat postal items and the position of the postal items relative to their direction of conveyance
US20080156824A1 (en) * 2006-12-29 2008-07-03 Dikrun Dermarderosian Component feeding with continuous motion escapement
US20110270838A1 (en) * 2006-01-23 2011-11-03 Coverity, Inc. Updating groups of items
US20190118983A1 (en) * 2016-04-04 2019-04-25 Gima Tt S.P.A. Transfer device for organized groups of smoking articles, apparatus and method to feed and form organized groups of smoking articles comprising said transfer device

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITBO20050595A1 (it) * 2005-10-06 2006-01-05 Gd Spa Metodo e macchina per l'incarto di un prodotto in almeno un foglio di incarto
ITUB20154801A1 (it) 2015-10-16 2017-04-16 Gd Spa Macchina impacchettatrice e metodo di incarto per realizzare un pacchetto di articoli da fumo contenente due gruppi di articoli da fumo tra loro distinti.

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE241062C (zh) *
US2007981A (en) * 1933-06-23 1935-07-16 American Can Co Can feeding device
US2320650A (en) * 1938-12-06 1943-06-01 Popov Vladimir Dmitrijevic Packaging machine
US3010561A (en) * 1957-12-26 1961-11-28 Koerber & Co Kg Filter mouthpiece cigarette making machines
DE2905376A1 (de) * 1979-02-13 1980-08-21 Kronseder Hermann Transportstern fuer flaschen o.dgl.
DE8805250U1 (de) * 1988-04-20 1988-07-14 Herlan & Co Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co KG, 7500 Karlsruhe Vorrichtung zum Umsetzen von Tuben, Dosen od. dgl. von einem schrittgeschalteten Transportmittel auf ein kontinuierlich laufendes Transportmittel
US5154278A (en) * 1990-04-14 1992-10-13 Korber Ag Apparatus for transferring arrays of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry
EP0548972A1 (en) * 1991-12-26 1993-06-30 Asahi Glass Company Ltd. A functional product
US5353909A (en) * 1992-08-29 1994-10-11 Kirin Techno-System Corporation Feeding and indexing apparatus

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2407580A1 (de) 1974-02-16 1975-08-21 Focke Pfuhl Verpack Automat Anlage zum herstellen und verpacken von zigaretten o.dgl. sowie verfahren zur speicherung derselben
DE3527742C2 (de) 1985-08-02 1996-06-13 Focke & Co Vorrichtung zum Fördern von Zigaretten-Gruppen
DE3943086A1 (de) 1989-12-27 1991-07-04 Schmermund Maschf Alfred Zigarettenpacker
US5282527A (en) * 1991-12-25 1994-02-01 Japan Tobacco Inc. Apparatus for arranging and piling cigarettes

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE241062C (zh) *
US2007981A (en) * 1933-06-23 1935-07-16 American Can Co Can feeding device
US2320650A (en) * 1938-12-06 1943-06-01 Popov Vladimir Dmitrijevic Packaging machine
US3010561A (en) * 1957-12-26 1961-11-28 Koerber & Co Kg Filter mouthpiece cigarette making machines
DE2905376A1 (de) * 1979-02-13 1980-08-21 Kronseder Hermann Transportstern fuer flaschen o.dgl.
DE8805250U1 (de) * 1988-04-20 1988-07-14 Herlan & Co Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co KG, 7500 Karlsruhe Vorrichtung zum Umsetzen von Tuben, Dosen od. dgl. von einem schrittgeschalteten Transportmittel auf ein kontinuierlich laufendes Transportmittel
US5154278A (en) * 1990-04-14 1992-10-13 Korber Ag Apparatus for transferring arrays of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry
EP0548972A1 (en) * 1991-12-26 1993-06-30 Asahi Glass Company Ltd. A functional product
US5353909A (en) * 1992-08-29 1994-10-11 Kirin Techno-System Corporation Feeding and indexing apparatus

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6092642A (en) * 1997-01-13 2000-07-25 G.D Societa' Per Azioni Method of forming groups of cigarettes
US6736257B2 (en) * 2001-08-25 2004-05-18 Hauni Maschinenbau Ag Device and method for transferring articles in the tobacco-processing industry
US7275633B2 (en) * 2003-04-09 2007-10-02 Siemens Ag Device for changing the direction of conveyance of flat postal items and the position of the postal items relative to their direction of conveyance
US20060180431A1 (en) * 2003-04-09 2006-08-17 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Device for changing the direction of conveyance of flat postal items and the position of the postal items relative to their direction of conveyance
US7530444B2 (en) * 2004-04-22 2009-05-12 G.D Societa′ per Azioni Transfer unit for transferring elongated articles
US20050236256A1 (en) * 2004-04-22 2005-10-27 G.D Societa' Per Azioni Transfer unit for transferring elongated articles
US20110270838A1 (en) * 2006-01-23 2011-11-03 Coverity, Inc. Updating groups of items
US20080156824A1 (en) * 2006-12-29 2008-07-03 Dikrun Dermarderosian Component feeding with continuous motion escapement
US7740125B2 (en) * 2006-12-29 2010-06-22 The Gillette Company Component feeding with continuous motion escapement
US20190118983A1 (en) * 2016-04-04 2019-04-25 Gima Tt S.P.A. Transfer device for organized groups of smoking articles, apparatus and method to feed and form organized groups of smoking articles comprising said transfer device
US20190127097A1 (en) * 2016-04-04 2019-05-02 Gima Tt S.P.A Method and apparatus to feed and form organized groups of smoking articles
US10946994B2 (en) * 2016-04-04 2021-03-16 I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatche S.P.A. Transfer device for organized groups of smoking articles, apparatus and method to feed and form organized groups of smoking articles comprising said transfer device
US10954012B2 (en) * 2016-04-04 2021-03-23 I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.P.A. Method and apparatus to feed and form organized groups of smoking articles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BR9504818A (pt) 1997-10-07
EP0706941A3 (en) 1997-07-02
EP0706941A2 (en) 1996-04-17
CN1058672C (zh) 2000-11-22
CN1129662A (zh) 1996-08-28
JPH08175509A (ja) 1996-07-09

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Owner name: G.D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI, ITALY

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:BELVEDERI, BRUNO;BARBIERI, GIULIO;REEL/FRAME:007714/0959

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Owner name: DRESSER EQUIPMENT GROUP, INC. (NOW KNOWN AS DRESSE

Free format text: NUNC PRO TUNC EFFECTIVE 01/31/1999;ASSIGNOR:DRESSER INDUSTRIES, INC.;REEL/FRAME:014538/0806

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Effective date: 20060623